Finally Got My Shell Dweller Tank

[PLECO657]

Okay, so for the past few months I've been planning to set up a 55 gallon shell dweller tank and I finally got everything today. I've got about an inch and a half of pool filter sand, and a mix of about 40 escargot and assorted shells ranging in different sizes. For my filter, I only have a top fin hang on back filter rates for my tank size but I plan to eventually get a fluval 406, I think it should be fine considering shell dwellers are quite small. For lighting I made what the king of DIY did for his "supercharged lighting". What species of shell dweller would people recommend and how many I should get for this tank?

 

[Coradee]

We have a few Shellie keeping members, hope they can help you today

 

[bigdreams]

I have had my eye on shell dwellers for a while, but don't have any yet. I currently have a 55 gallon community tank, I think my next tank would be a single species only tank. I like the multies (neolamprogus multifaciatus). They form a colony, are well behaved, and are relatively hardy. I think there a more colorful version, forgot the name... In any case, a 55 is pretty tall tank for these fish. You will have lots of empty swimming room at top of tank of you only keep shell dwellers. A 40 gallon breeder may be better, plenty of room. Not sure how many to get... Maybe 12 to start, lots of shells, they should multiply pretty quickly.

 

[MJDuti]

Very nice. You lookin to breed exclusively or have a community tank?

 

[PLECO657]

I'm gonna be breeding exclusively, I breed BN plecos for my LFS and they told me that they rarely get shell dwellers in but quite a few people ask for them. So I told them I could breed for them.